MTB Pro Picks: Best Mountain Bike Accessories for 2019

We asked Mark Matthews, Hydro Flask ambassador and professional mountain biker, for his top MTB accessory picks for 2019. These are the items the adventure-seeking, trail-building fanatic just can’t seem to ride without.

The Journey Series pack is quickly becoming my go-to storage for adventure rides. I use this 20L Hydro Flask hydration pack on longer rides when I’m carrying more gear than just my basic tools and need plenty of water.

The Cold Flow insulated hydration system is a big bonus. This is a larger-size riding pack, but it’s super comfortable, so you hardly notice its size when it’s on you. On the flipside, for a 20L pack, it’s also still nice and compact with clever compartments.

This rad little toolkit has everything you need for working on your bike when you’re out and about. I bring it with me everywhere I go and usually keep it in my vehicle so I always have backup tools. It’s a great substitute for a full-size toolkit. I love products that aren’t bigger than they need to be — and the Lezyne Port-A-Shop Tool Kit is one of those.

Because I haven’t purchased a helmet in years, it took a lot of searching and testing to get this one right. The A2 helmet by Troy Lee Designs came out on top. It’s the best helmet of its kind that I’ve ever owned. This mountain bike lid is lightweight, comfortable, and has amazing ventilation. It’s also consistently well-rated and provides peace of mind with MIPS protection for your noggin.

Having a first-aid kit on you for adventures is essential. This is my medical kit of choice for mountain biking because it’s lightweight and waterproof. Plus, it’s got everything you might need — and nothing silly you’ll never use.

There are lots of great riding jackets out there. And I’m very picky about how something fits on my body. If it feels weird at all, I won’t mountain bike with it on. The Interstellar by Outdoor Research is a personal favorite because it’s super comfy and looks great (if do say so myself). Plus, the hood fits over a bike helmet.

Having a quality GPS beacon on backcountry bike adventures could mean the difference between life and death. I hope I never have to use my inReach device, but I appreciate the mini version of this trusted Garmin GPS because of how small and compact it is. This is a quality I consider with many of my purchases, especially one that’s just for emergencies.

It’s a water bottle cage with a stealthy toolkit attached! How awesome is that? For those days I don’t want to ride with a pack but want to stay hydrated and have tools on me, the Flow Storage Case is a handy mountain biking accessory.

This is not a specific MTB accessory but is still very applicable to serious mountain bikers. Soft-tissue work and foam rolling have been game-changing for me. On trips when I can’t bring my full-size roller, I bring the Mini GRID Roller to use after every ride instead. It’s effective and — my favorite — compact.

Although a dropper-post lever might seem like a simple thing, how smoothly your dropper moves up and down is affected by the lever. I choose the PNW Components loam lever because of its comfortable padding, slick design, and high-quality materials. This mountain bike lever works really well and adds to the quality of my ride.

This is a super-handy item I keep in my riding pack, mostly for those moments I’m wearing a pack on my local trails. It’s a little labor-intensive (like any hand saw) but works extremely well and is perfect for clearing trails. I don’t recommend it for trail building, however.